What is the Schwa?
The schwa is the most common vowel sound in English and is represented by the symbol /ə/.
It occurs in unstressed syllables and sounds like a quick, relaxed "uh".
Why is it Important?
It makes your English sound more natural and fluent. It appears in many everyday words regardless of the vowel letter.
Key Examples
about /əˈbaʊt/
taken /ˈteɪ.kən/
pencil /ˈpen.səl/
lemon /ˈlem.ən/
banana /bəˈnɑː.nə/
family /ˈfæm.ə.li/
sofa /ˈsoʊ.fə/
Examples with Three or More Syllables
banana /bəˈnæn.ə/
reliable /rɪˈlaɪ.ə.bəl/
umbrella /ʌmˈbrɛ.lə/
aroma /əˈroʊ.mə/
economical /ˌiː.kəˈnɑː.mɪ.kəl/
stamina /ˈstæ.mə.nə/
individuality /ˌɪn.dɪˌvɪdʒ.uˈæl.ə.ti/
terrible /ˈtɛr.ə.bəl/
dilemma /daɪˈlɛ.mə/
political /pəˈlɪ.tɪ.kəl/
vocabulary /ˌvoʊ.kæbˈjʊl.ə.ri/
pajama /pəˈdʒæ.mə/
vegetable /ˈvɛdʒ.tə.bəl/
arena /əˈriː.nə/
comfortable /ˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bəl/
analysis /əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/
cinema /ˈsɪn.ə.mə/
secretary /ˈsɛk.rə.ter.i/
vanilla /vəˈnɪ.lə/
agenda /əˈdʒɛn.də/
personality /ˌpɝː.səˈnæl.ə.ti/
diploma /dɪˈploʊ.mə/
possible /ˈpɑː.sə.bəl/
antenna /ænˈtɛn.ə/
phenomena /fəˈnɑː.mə.nə/